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CMFE Member: CMS Community Media Sweden

CMS, Community Media Sweden, formed in 2015 and is the umbrella organization for RÖK (Riksförbundet Öppna Kanaler i Sverige / National Swedish Open TV Group) and NRO (Närradions Riksorganisation / National Local Radio association) .

CMS (http://www.communitymedia.se/), new member of CMFE from 2016, wants the support to go to those who have a general political and democratic opinion as the most important task. The CMS wants the editorial culture and democracy support primarily to go to local businesses; among other things, to secure the local cultural and community surveillance.

In recent years, the number of associations that broadcast has decreased. But at the same time, there is a development of those who broadcast via social media. We have therefore developed a training material that is aimed at non-profit organizations to stimulate them to become part of community media. In the media landscape we have today, it is important to assert the values that the community media stands for.

The chairman of NRO (http://www.nro.se/), Lars-Erik Backström hoped for increased cooperation between the local radio and television stations after the reunion. “Yes, and a new structure for the training of active citizen journalists in special so-called Media Center. It is becoming increasingly important that citizens understand how the media works, not least when it comes to information via the Internet”, says Backström. NRO unites about 60 radio stations all over Sweden.

RÖK (https://www.oppnakanalen.se/eng) unites member stations broadcasting in 30 Swedish counties via Cable TV and IPTV, with a total channel subscriber base of over 2 million Swedish citizens! These stations are open to everyone and to all organisations. Charities, Non-Profits, Companies och individuals can make and broadcast their own TV Programmes with us. Our work is funded primarily by membership fees and the members themselves. Swedish law allows most broadcasts to be additionally funded by Sponsorship & Paid Product Placement, but commercial advertisements are strictly forbidden.

Lotta Gröning, first chairperson of CMS in 2015, believed that a new initiative on the local radio and television channels can revitalize local democracy, not least when it comes to integration issues and local surveillance.
“The opportunities are great, not least now that integration issues have to be on the table and the number of journalists in the country is getting fewer and the media houses are becoming increasingly concentrated and uniform,” says Lotta Gröning.